Ellen DeGeneres (2009)

James Carville and Mary Matalin (2008 remarks)

Brian Williams (2007 remarks)

President George H. W. Bush (2006 remarks)

President William J. Clinton (2006 remarks)

Michael Lewis (2005 remarks)

John Breaux (2004)

David Halberstam (2003 remarks)

William Safire (2002)

Marian Wright Edleman (2001 remarks)

Walter Isaacson (2000 remarks)

Cokie Roberts

Janet Reno

Art Buchwald

Vernon Jordan

Ralph Nader

Andrew Young

Tom Brokaw

Norman Cousins

Dr. Michael DeBakey

Thomas Foley

Lewis Powell

Hon. Corinne "Lindy" Boggs